ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RED BLOOD CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH AND ORGAN DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between red blood cell distribution width and the severity of organ dysfunction in patients with sepsis. A retrospective analytical study was conducted in 320 patients with sepsis admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City between 2022 and 2023. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and red blood cell distribution width were collected at multiple time points for correlation analysis. Red blood cell distribution width at admission, 48 hours, and 72 hours showed weak but statistically significant positive correlations with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. At 48 hours, red blood cell distribution width was also weakly positively correlated with blood lactate. In contrast, red blood cell distribution width showed a weak negative correlation with procalcitonin and no significant correlation with renal function, liver enzymes, or arterial blood gas indices. These findings suggest that red blood cell distribution width is associated with the severity of organ dysfunction and metabolic derangement in patients with sepsis and may provide additional information as an adjunctive marker in severity assessment.